OBITUARY: Patricia 'Pat' Thoreson

The funeral will be Saturday, Nov. 24 at Sand Hill Lutheran Church in rural Climax.

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Crookston Times - Crookston, MN

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Posted Nov. 21, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Posted Nov. 21, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Crookston, Minn.

Patricia Alice Thoreson, age 84, of Crookston, MN, and a former longtime Climax, Minnesota resident, died Monday morning, November 19, 2012, at the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston, with her family at her side. Pat, as she was best known, was born on December 1, 1927 in Crookston, MN, the daughter of Wilbur and Asta (Cornelius) Ryan. She grew up in Crookston, was baptized and confirmed at the Sand Hill Lutheran Church near Climax, and graduated from Crookston Central High School in 1945. While a senior in high school she was employed in the office of Dr. Hendrickson, a local optometrist, and later worked at the Montgomery Ward store.

Pat was united in marriage to Ingman E. “Spike” Thoreson Jr. on June 12, 1947 at the Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage in Crookston by Pastor Haugen. The couple made their first home on Spike’s parent’s farm in Roome Township, rural Climax, before moving in 1950 to their farmstead in Tynsid Township, near Climax. They farmed in the Climax area until retirement, and in October of 1997 moved to Crookston. In July of this year, as Pat’s health was in decline, she became a resident of the Pioneer Memorial Care Center in Erskine. A few weeks later she came back to Crookston to the Villa St. Vincent, where she had been living to the present time. Spike spent the better part of every day sitting with her.

Pat and Spike were faithful members of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church, rural Climax. Pat sang in the choir and was also active in the Ladies Aid, now known as WELCA. She was a longtime member of the neighborhood Birthday Club, and her favorite pastimes included reading and doing ceramics. Over the course of about 22 years, they enjoyed traveling and spending winters in FL, TX, CA, and AZ. Spike loves to tell the story of the time, while in Texas, when he and Pat met Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart and Sam’s Club. Spike said he was a “regular guy” and a great singer. Family and friends were the focus of Pat’s life and she will be missed very much by all who were part of her life.

Pat is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Ingman E. “Spike”Thoreson Jr. of Crookston, MN; son, Tom (Jan) Thoreson of Moorhead, MN; daughter-in-law, Lynn (Paul) Strodtbeck of Grand Rapids, MI; 4 grandchildren: Wayne (Lisa) Thoreson of Climax, MN, Shari (Greg) Wiersma of Allendale, MI, Mikell (Jennifer) Thoreson of Mayville, WI, and Chad (Jennifer) Thoreson of West Fargo, ND; and 7 great-grandchildren: Alexis, Logan, Garrett, Gabrielle, Hallie, Parker, and Lily-an. She also leaves 2 sisters, Kay Askeland of San Jose, CA and Diane (Everett) Marshall of Thief River Falls, MN; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Delano and Janice Thoreson of Climax, Arlone Cymbaluk of Crookston, MN, and JoAnn and Gerald Johnson of East Grand Forks, MN; as well as, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Pat was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Gary, who died in 1971; a sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Veril Hagen; 3 brothers-in-law, Ed Askeland, Warren Smith, and Marvin Cymbaluk; and a sister-in-law, Delores Smith Moser. May God bless the memory of Patricia Alice Thoreson.

Page 2 of 2 - The funeral service for Pat Thoreson will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 24, 2012, at the Sand Hill Lutheran Church, rural Climax, with The Rev. Joy Grainger, officiating. Visitation will be at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston on Friday from 5-7PM, with a 7PM prayer service, and also at the church for one prior to the service. Interment will be in the Sand Hill Cemetery.